Category Archives: vermouth

Long story, but my company is having an “Around the World” day where we have to pick a country/region/place, make food from that area, and then present it to a judge wearing an outfit representative of the area. My team has picked “Outer Space” for our theme. We’ll be making futuristic, astronaut-like food, and someone brought up the idea of a tang drink.

Might you have any ideas for a tang-inspired cocktail? Ideally we would serve it out of a punch bowl. We are also planning on making shot glasses out of ice (someone in the group has the appropriate molds to do so).

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you!
LC

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Dear LC,

I love your workplace! First, mobile beer carts, now an “Around the World” day where cocktails will be served.

I’ve tried to find something out-of-this-world, given your team has chosen “Outer Space” as your theme. But, it’s been a challenge. In a good way.

I’ve seen this “Jupiter” drink in a few of my cocktail books. Not sure it can be turned into a “traditional” punch, but it looks pretty tasty (and, I know your affection for gin). Tang could certainly be substituted for the OJ. And, since it should be served in a chilled glass, an ice shot glass would be a great touch.

Shake ingredients well over ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Another option that has significantly less ingredients, and much easier to prepare — how about tang and champagne? What do you think they call mimosas in outer space?

Please let me know what you decide!

Ms. S&C

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Update on the “Around the World” office party: LC’s team decided on tang mimosas, and really took their Outer Space theme to a whole other level. Check out their impressive menu. (I forgot to ask about what outfits they wore.)

The 82nd annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. I’ll admit, I do get enraptured in the red carpet hoopla, the extravagant celebrity fashion, the self-indulgent speeches. Plus, I like movies. I also like the timing of this shindig. A month or so before the awards, I happily escape the cold and head to the movie theater to see many of the Oscar nominated picks.

No big awards show is a big awards show without Meryl Streep. Last Sunday’sNew York Times called her a “cinematic chameleon for all audiences.” And with that, I dedicate this blog post to her 16th Oscar nomination — this year for best performance by an actress in a leading role for “Julie and Julia.” In this role, Meryl becomes Julia Child — and, because of her outstanding performance — Julia has now become Meryl. When Ms. Streep was nominated for an Academy Award last year for “Doubt,” Gourmet named a cocktail in her honor.

The Meryl Streep cocktail, courtesy of Gourmet,
because the lady is tasteful, classy and golden.

The Meryl Streepcourtesy of Gourmet

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Goldschläger, including some gold flecks

1 teaspoon Bénédictine

Demi-sec Champagne or Prosecco (well-chilled)

Combine Goldschläger and Bénédictine in a Champagne flute, then top off with Champagne.

Another cocktail option for awards ceremony watching, is a drink honoring of Ms. Julia Child. Back in August, a New York Times’Shaken & Stirred column focused on Noilly Prat vermouth. The recipe featured? The Upside-Down Martini, which is said to be Julia’s favorite cocktail.

Upside-Down Martinicourtesy of The New York Times, adapted from Libation

Ingredients:

3/4 ounce gin

3 3/4 ounces Noilly Prat vermouth

Lemon twist, for garnish

Combine the gin and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with the lemon twist. (Alternatively, you can serve it on the rocks; combine the ingredients in a rocks glass with ice, garnish and serve.)

Ms. S&C will be *live blogging* the event from a friend’s seventh annual Oscar Extravaganza party. So, if you’re home watching the show, check-in with S&C and share your comments!

About Shoes & Cocktails

The blog dedicated to shoes, cocktails, and things related was created by Ms. ShoesandCocktails, a Washington, DC area resident, who lives with her husband and dog, and is surrounded by friends with good taste and a weakness for cocktails. Ms. S&C would love to hear from you, so feel free to contact her at: shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Miss Mojito also joins Ms. S&C as a contributor. Miss M is from Richmond, VA, and lives and breathes for the delightful Cuban cocktail from which she borrows her name.